Tolerance & Coexistence

Tolerance is one of the pillars on which human civilization has been built upon.Every religion on earth preaches it; great statesmen and philosophers have been inspired by it; mass political movements have struggled to uphold it and present day democratic governments cannot function properly without it. The basic tenets of tolerance are compassion, understanding and appreciation of the right of others to differ in beliefs and faiths, cultural norms and values. These are the foundations of a civilized society and crucial for peaceful coexistence.

The Ambassador would have us believe that Islam is tolerant, the innocent victim of intolerance. Allah’s book puts the lie to that implication.

3:85. And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.

3:86. How shall Allâh guide a people who disbelieved after their belief and after they bore witness that the Messenger (Muhammad ) is true and after clear proofs had come unto them? And Allâh guides not the people who are Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).

3:87. They are those whose recompense is that on them (rests) the Curse of Allâh, of the angels, and of all mankind.

No religion other than Islam will be tolerated. Allah and the Muslims curse everyone who rejects Islam in favor of any alternative. I have quoted the Hilali & Khan translation and linked to a tabular display of nine translations so that you can verify the accuracy and meaning of the ayat. Ibn Kathir’s Tafsir is here: The Religion with Allah is Islam

Return to the initial quote and note the highlighted phrase; the implication is that Islam recognizes and values that virtue. What does Allah’s book say about peaceful coexistence with Jews & Christians?

9:29. Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allâh, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allâh and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islâm) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.The Order to fight People of the Scriptures until They give the Jizyah.

Any Muslim will tell you that those ayat are taken out of context, the meaning obvious on their face is mis-interpretation.
Don’t believe them; believe Ibn Kathir, who spent his whole life studying the Qur’an, hadith & Sharia.